Page 50 - Appendix A

Stan Eval (Standards and Evaluation) instructor, mainly because I was behind. I finished the T-
37A training ahead of everyone else. I was able to take a few days of leave and drove Phoenix-

Los Angeles-Las Vegas-Phoenix with the family. In T-38’s I was paired with a C-130 driver and
had my first near death experience. I analyzed the situation from the front seat and saved us
both and the aircraft.

My initial solo ride in the T-38 I had an emergency and did a single-engine landing. This was
significant because we lost a student (aeronautical engineer) and instructor (Air Force Academy
Graduate) and the T-38 aircraft doing a single-engine landing. Side note: My wife, a RN, and I
accompanied the Commander, Chaplain, Flight surgeon and CBPO representative the house of
the student wife (on-base) to deliver the sad news. My wife and I stayed overnight, a RN was
needed for the meds, and I answered the phone, made calls and sent visitors away for that

night. I believe we were chosen because of my wife being a Nurse and I was more mature with
over 6 ½ years in the service.

What year did you complete your training and at what location?
I did not graduate from Pilot Training. In October 1974 I was given a check ride by the Squadron
Commander which resulted in leaving the program. The Commander’s basic comment, and a
matter of record was there is something missing. A viable reason, for me, was never given. In
August of 1974 my best friend, US Army and then a Detroit Policeman was killed on a stake-out.
I missed one day of training for a weekend flight to Detroit and back. I am sure there was some
grieving. Additionally, I was TAC asset per my enlisted time, and an over-abundance of fighter
pilots were returning home from Vietnam and the Far-East.

I went on to Navigator Training and Electronic Warfare Training, graduating and receiving the
only fighter, an F-105G Wild Weasel assignment as an Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO) and
backseat co-pilot. I was selected to be one of the initial Instructors in the new F-4G Wild Weasel
in 1978 with only 500+ hours in the F-105G.

My career continued with a few more racial set-backs but ended as a Commander for the 26
Intelligence Squadron (IS) USAFTAWC Elgin AFB. After Desert Storm, I received an award from
the CIA which I refused unless it was presented to my Squadron. I was asked to rewrite the
award, and the CIA would present it to the 26 IS. I was able to arrange for the 26 IS to fly to
Bolling AFB, MD, visit the Pentagon, receive the award at the CIA Headquarters and return

home, all in one day.

My personal mentor and sponsor became General Charles L. Donnelly Jr. in 1981.